Fantasy Focus Week 6: Thursday Night Lights

Another weekend is in the books of fantasy football fun, and by now, there are some teams we feel we can count on, that can help us project performance. Take, for instance, the Vikings' defense, which has been downright nasty and nothing looks like that will change. Unfortunately, there are still several teams, where it seems to be a week-to-week situation. How about Detroit for example? After how they had played, did anyone give Matt Stafford much of a chance to post anything useful Sunday against a tough Philly 'D'? Probably not, but then, of course, he throws 3 touchdown passes! It can be frustrating when you're trying to play the matchups, and things don't turn out the way we figured they would, but it's the NFL or "the never figure-it-out league!!" So, we'll just continue to break down the matchups the best we can, and make the best calls based on what we know and hope for the best! Let's dig into Thursday's game:

BRONCOS AT CHARGERS -- THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL

Well, after what the Falcons did to the Broncos, I'd say they're going to be pretty mad. I don't think anyone saw that coming. The Broncos did do a solid job on the Atlanta receivers, including holding Julio Jones to a measly 2 catches for 29 yards receiving. The problem was, the Falcons' running back duo of Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman went nuts! Coleman ended up playing a lot, despite his sickle-cell issue and along with Freeman, they ripped the Denver defense on the ground and through the air. I can't imagine the Chargers' Melvin Gordon doing anything remotely close to that. With only two teams on bye this week, I would try to sit Gordon if possible, because I just don't see him doing much here on the ground. I mean, just looking at his statistics, he has scored TDs, yes, but his yardage has not been great, except for his 100-yard game, in week 2.

The Denver run 'D' hasn't been a totally lockdown 'D', but they're decent. There isn't really any trend thus far, that shows that Denver has had problems with opposing running backs in the passing game, so maybe it was just a one-time thing, with the immense talents of both Freeman and Coleman, and solid blocking of the Atlanta offensive line, Given Gordon's numbers. I would only start Gordon if you're in a pickle and have no other choices because I just don't see him doing much here.

As for quarterback Philip Rivers, I think they will throw, but I just can't see them having a whole lot of success doing it unless they try to use the same blueprint that Atlanta did and throw it to their running backs. That would maybe be the only way Gordon or McCluster would maybe have any value here. McCluster hasn't done much since being signed after Danny Woodhead went down, but maybe this is a week where they give him some dump-off passes. The receivers will probably have a difficult time getting open against these Broncos' defensive backs. I mean if Julio Jones can only muster two catches, then do you think Travis Benjamin or Tyrell Williams are going to go off?

The one thing we can look back on is that Kelvin Benjamin and Greg Olsen had good nights back in week 1 against Denver. Also, A.J. Green had a good game against them in week 3. The Chargers' receiving corp doesn't really have any studs, though, so I wouldn't bank on them to go crazy here. I'm only thinking Benjamin and Williams are WR-3s or flex plays here at the most. Tight end is a little bit of a quandary here for San Diego, now that Antonio Gates is back. He and Hunter Henry both scored last week, actually, making it more difficult to predict. I would almost lean towards Henry because he's younger and healthier, but you can't discount the Rivers-Gates relationship. They're both just TE-2's against this defense, though. If you need one, because you have Kyle Rudolph or Cameron Brate, who are off, I'd lean towards Henry. Rivers, by the way, is probably not the greatest start, but if you need him, then use him. Forget using the Chargers' defense.

The Broncos' look to be getting quarterback Trevor Siemian, back off his sprained AC joint injury. The good thing is this is to his non-throwing shoulder, so it shouldn't bother his accuracy or power. I definitely think Siemian is a decent plug and play if you're in need of a starting QB this week against a Chargers' defense who has its injury troubles.

Shutdown corner Jason Verrett has been lost for the season thanks to a torn ACL, so that should make things a little easier. If you have Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders, roll them out there this week! I'm not considering any other Denver receivers or tight ends, here. As for the running game, it's getting a tad worrisome with C.J. Anderson. The last couple of weeks, backup Devontae Booker has gotten a decent amount of touches, while Anderson has seen his drop a little bit. I wouldn't sit Anderson by any stretch just yet, but it's something to keep an eye on. This should be a matchup where Anderson should do well, so roll him out there. Booker is beginning to enter that flex discussion, but I'm not sure if I'd do that just yet. If you're an Anderson owner, you should get Booker as a handcuff, or if you don't own Anderson and have room, pick up Booker and maybe he gains more value as we go along. The Denver defense is a nice start here on the short week.

A prayer service was held to begin the healing process for people in Union County. The people of Union County are still dealing with loss, but today was about healing. Community members gathered outside the Union County Court House in Morganfield this afternoon for a prayer service.

A prayer service was held to begin the healing process for people in Union County. The people of Union County are still dealing with loss, but today was about healing. Community members gathered outside the Union County Court House in Morganfield this afternoon for a prayer service.

(AP Photo/Jennifer Kay). Six crosses are placed at a makeshift memorial on the Florida International University campus in Miami on Saturday, March 17, 2018, near the scene of a pedestrian bridge collapse that killed at least six people on March 15.

A matter of seconds between those who would live and those who would die as Florida pedestrian bridge topples down highway bustling with passing vehicles.

Authorities say a missing Pennsylvania teenager and a 45-year-old man who frequently signed her out of school without her parents' permission have been located in Mexico, and the man has been arrested.

Authorities say a missing Pennsylvania teenager and a 45-year-old man who frequently signed her out of school without her parents' permission have been located in Mexico, and the man has been arrested.

(Nick Wagner/Austin American-Statesman via AP). FBI agents work the scene of an explosion in Austin, Texas, Sunday, March 18, 2018. At least a few people were injured in another explosion in Texas' capital late Sunday, after three package bombs detonat...

Officials reported that an explosion in southwest Austin injured two men in their 20s who were hospitalized with injuries that didn't appear to be life-threatening.

(Joe Ahlquist/The Rochester Post-Bulletin via AP). Emergency personnel respond to the scene of a fatal stabbing Saturday, March 17, 2018, at the Salvation Army Castleview Residence in downtown Rochester, Minn. Police have arrested a man in the multiple...

Police have arrested a man in the fatal stabbing of two men at a Salvation Army apartment building in downtown Rochester, Minnesota.

Conway parents were arrested for unlawful neglect of a child after their baby was allegedly thrown from his car seat, according to a police report from Horry County Police. 20-year-old Juliana Biggerstaff and 22-year-old Jacob Lowman were arrested on Thursday after a complainant called police. Officers responded to a residence on Woodwinds Drive in Conway on March 14. Upon arrival, officers located a baby boy with a “visible injury to the top of his h...

Conway parents were arrested for unlawful neglect of a child after their baby was allegedly thrown from his car seat, according to a police report from Horry County Police. 20-year-old Juliana Biggerstaff and 22-year-old Jacob Lowman were arrested on Thursday after a complainant called police. Officers responded to a residence on Woodwinds Drive in Conway on March 14. Upon arrival, officers located a baby boy with a “visible injury to the top of his h...